Rumours and Stuff

[El Diablo]

Looking at that list, does anyone think that there is a team with better external signings than we have?
Most teams only have two or three, and not many have the quality we have gained.
I know we are starting from a lower point than other teams, but I can't fault the recruitment for next year so far.

not sure if serious

 

[Stevie]

Looking at that list, does anyone think that there is a team with better external signings than we have?
Most teams only have two or three, and not many have the quality we have gained.
I know we are starting from a lower point than other teams, but I can't fault the recruitment for next year so far.

Yeah, but no other teams ran LAST this season.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

The following who played NRL this year all have improvement in them (based on age / experience):

Salmon
Mahoney
Kaufusi
Niukore
Alvaro
Moeroa
French
Gutho
Moses
Stone
Gennings
Brown
Pritchard

And they are all 26 or younger next year

While Norman / Jennings / Evan / Hayne can all play better then they did this year.

Mannah / Peni / Manu have probably peaked but are still playing good footy.

Taka is on the decline.

Paulo and Lane have potentially more improvement in them based on their 2018 form while who knows what the Fijian winger will do.

Ferguson just needs to play like this year.

 

[hineyrulz]

Yep the squad is looking very strong, we are looking pretty.


I can’t see why we aren’t almost the favourites for next season.

I really like our spine. So settled, the halves are a great combination and we have so much depth in the 9 spot. It should be very exciting.

 

[T.S Quint]

not sure if serious

I asked the question.
What's your answer? Which teams have had better external recruitment that the Eels? I'm actually interested to know.

 

[Gronk]

Yep the squad is looking very strong, we are looking pretty.


I can’t see why we aren’t almost the favourites for next season.

I really like our spine. So settled, the halves are a great combination and we have so much depth in the 9 spot. It should be very exciting.

Well merkin the team that played in weeks 1 & 2 of the semis last year was this team. Just saying that it has got a lot to do with belief, confidence and form. Storm were at full strength, did not do it in a canter and it was a very tough game 3 tries each. The Cows beat us the next week 4 tries to 3 with basically the same side.

So you can spew your usual sarcasm, but like it or not history shows that our squad was competitive only 12 months ago. To me that shows me that all we need is a bit of hard work and some luck. We have added Lane, Fergo and Jnr, so other than the huge Semi loss, we must be a better squad than 2017.

Storm 18-16

Smith
Semi
Mennings
Taka
Auv'a
Norman
Moses
Alvaro
King
Mannah
Ma'u
Tepai
Brown

Scott
Edwards
Vave
Matagi

 

[T.S Quint]

Yeah, but no other teams ran LAST this season.

We can't change the whole f**king team, you know.
We can only make the changes that are possible. The coaching staff seemed to have identified the areas we desperately needed new players - three areas which have been identified by pretty much everyone on this forum as well - a big, attacking prop; a big, hard running winger; a line-breaking second rower.

Paulo, Ferguson and Evans fit these descriptions perfectly, and were three of the best players off contract in those positions signed so far. What other teams have recruited better?

 

[T.S Quint]

Yep the squad is looking very strong, we are looking pretty.


I can’t see why we aren’t almost the favourites for next season.

I really like our spine. So settled, the halves are a great combination and we have so much depth in the 9 spot. It should be very exciting.

FFS, you are the perfect embodiment of someone arguing on the internet.
It's either the worst ever or the best ever. No in between.

No one has said that we should be favourites next season. No one has even said that we will make the Finals next season (to my knowledge anyway). What I am saying is that our external recruitment has been very good so far for next season. We are starting from a lower base than other clubs, but I would be surprised if we don't improve on our performance this season.

 

[hindy111]

FFS, you are the perfect embodiment of someone arguing on the internet.
It's either the worst ever or the best ever. No in between.

No one has said that we should be favourites next season. No one has even said that we will make the Finals next season (to my knowledge anyway). What I am saying is that our external recruitment has been very good so far for next season. We are starting from a lower base than other clubs, but I would be surprised if we don't improve on our performance this season.

I said we will

 

[T.S Quint]

The following who played NRL this year all have improvement in them (based on age / experience):

Salmon
Mahoney
Kaufusi
Niukore
Alvaro
Moeroa
French
Gutho
Moses
Stone
Gennings
Brown
Pritchard

And they are all 26 or younger next year

While Norman / Jennings / Evan / Hayne can all play better then they did this year.

Mannah / Peni / Manu have probably peaked but are still playing good footy.

Taka is on the decline.

Paulo and Lane have potentially more improvement in them based on their 2018 form while who knows what the Fijian winger will do.

Ferguson just needs to play like this year.

We need plenty of players to improve their form next season.
Norman and Moses more than anyone else. Their horrendous play this year was robably the main reason for our lowly position. If just one of them plays to even half his potential, we probably win a few more games and don't finish last.

Michael Jennings, Manu Ma'u, Brad Takairangi, Bevan French, Clint Gutherson and even Nathan Brown were all considerably down on their 2017 form, and need to quickly get it back.
Evans needs to show what he is capable of if he wants a permanent place in the top grade.

 

[T.S Quint]

I said we will

Fair enough.
I think we have as good a chance as most other teams, but not going to predict a definite top 8 finish.
I've lived through too many disappointing seasons to do that.

 

[IFR33K]

What did he cost us in the long term? Did he make us run last this year?

Technically no, but why didn’t we bother investing money in someone a little younger. 4 years for a 32 yo is an absolutely moronic decision.

 

[T.S Quint]

Technically no, but why didn’t we bother investing money in someone a little younger. 4 years for a 32 yo is an absolutely moronic decision.

I guess we needed experience.
Watmough was a Premiership winner, State of Origin and Australian rep who had played almost 300 games of FG football. 4 years may have been extreme, but maybe there was no other way of getting him to the club. I guess they just figured he'd never last that long anyway and retire...which he did.

 

[hineyrulz]

FFS, you are the perfect embodiment of someone arguing on the internet.
It's either the worst ever or the best ever. No in between.

No one has said that we should be favourites next season. No one has even said that we will make the Finals next season (to my knowledge anyway). What I am saying is that our external recruitment has been very good so far for next season. We are starting from a lower base than other clubs, but I would be surprised if we don't improve on our performance this season.

Our recruitment so far has been fine, but seriously we needed to recruit better then any other club in the comp. we did just win 6 games, Another experienced 9, another decent middle forward have to be priorities IMO. Long way to go to be a chance for a top 8 spot IMO.

 

[Gronk]

Our recruitment so far has been fine, but seriously we needed to recruit better then any other club in the comp. we did just win 6 games, Another experienced 9, another decent middle forward have to be priorities IMO. Long way to go to be a chance for a top 8 spot IMO.

Problem is that the good players on the market right now Pangai Jnr, Kapow etc will be snapped up by the sombrero sides.

 

[El Diablo]

I asked the question.
What's your answer? Which teams have had better external recruitment that the Eels? I'm actually interested to know.

quick glance and Titans, Knights and Roosters

most others, apart from those who signed none, are about equal to our signings

problem is we needed to sign a lot better and we also needed a new coach

we will be bottom four again

 

[El Diablo]

Problem is that the good players on the market right now Pangai Jnr, Kapow etc will be snapped up by the sombrero sides.

no king nuthugger

they don't want to play for a dud coach and Mr. mini tramps

 

[T.S Quint]

Our recruitment so far has been fine, but seriously we needed to recruit better then any other club in the comp. we did just win 6 games, Another experienced 9, another decent middle forward have to be priorities IMO. Long way to go to be a chance for a top 8 spot IMO.

I absolutely agree with this. You're much better off with posts like this than the other one.
I would love to get an experienced hooker, but not sure who's available - either on or off contract. I see Korisaou is off contract, and he is pretty decent, but we can't be paying through the nose for anyone who isn't a proper top tier player. I don't think we have any room for more middle forwards unfortunately. Paulo, Alvaro, Mannah, Brown, Terepo, Evans, plus Tepai and Ma'u who can play inside as well. Doesn't leave much room for anyone else. I'd say we will be looking for someone in this position for 2020.

We can't recruit a whole new team unfortunately. We will have to rely on quite a few of our remaining players to find some form, which isn't out of the question.
With an improved coaching staff (one with more help around the current staff) hopefully, we will see some of 2018's poorer performers return to the type of play that got us to the top 4 in 2017.

 

[T.S Quint]

Problem is that the good players on the market right now Pangai Jnr, Kapow etc will be snapped up by the sombrero sides.

I don't expect Pangai Jr to leave Brisbane.
Taupau could go anywhere. He has proven that he doesn't have to go to a top team, so we may still be in the mix.

 

[hindy111]

I guess we needed experience.
Watmough was a Premiership winner, State of Origin and Australian rep who had played almost 300 games of FG football. 4 years may have been extreme, but maybe there was no other way of getting him to the club. I guess they just figured he'd never last that long anyway and retire...which he did.

Watmough signing was fine if for 2yrs. 3 yrs was to long and 4yrs was silly.
Scott was the same. Guy was average at best his finals 2 seasons.
I would sign players idealy under 28ylds. Anyone older then 30 id be reluctant to offer 3yrs deals or longer. Sure we may miss out in a few opportunities but the gamble and risk is high and unless was cheap and needed a chance like say T rex I just wouldn't play that game. The exception perhaps would be if in a premiership window and one class player for 2yrs may get us the title.